Why is my 2-year-old Lab lethargic, not eating, and has skin issues?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Rocco! I do not think him being neutered 6 months ago has anything to do with a poor appetite and lethargy. the heat can make dogs slow down but it doesn't make Labs not eat! Labs love food. I am worried and recommend you have him seen by your Vet for an exam, blood work and belly X-rays. Possible causes are: kidney problems secondary to Lyme disease (huge issue in US with labs, even young ones), ate something causing a blockage, cancer and many other things. I would take him in since it has been a few weeks. I wish you the best!

Rambo could have a number of problems that could cause lethargy - anemia, tick borne diseases or other infections could make him seem sleepier than usual. I would recommend having your vet examine him - they may recommend checking some blood work as well.

Hair loss can be related to many things but is not generally associated with any condition causing a lack of appetite. Hair loss is typically associated with skin infections, allergies or parasites. A loss of appetite can be related to many things, from illness to stress. Your best option is to have Lusib examined by the veterinarian. This will give you the answer and treatment the fastest. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Part of her not gaining weight could be due to an intestinal malabsorption issue. Your veterinarian could consider further advanced diagnostics like an abdominal ultrasound and a GI panel to check for something like that. I do suspect that her skin issues are possibly due to allergies and that probably plays a role in her quality of life. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Brak n Jan is not doing well at home. Any signs of lethargy, decreased appetite, and acting abnormal, especially in a younger dog, warrant a visit to the veterinarian. A 2 year old Lab should have lots of energy and a good appetite if they are healthy. It is possible that he is systemically sick, either with gastrointestinal disease, liver or kidney disease, or other metabolic issue causing him to feel unwell. He may also be painful somewhere, causing him to not want to eat and walk slowly. I recommend contacting your veterinarian to have him seen at the next available appointment. Your vet will likely recommend bloodwork to look for any evidence of infection or organ abnormalities that can be treated. Do NOT give any pain medications that are intended for humans to Brak n Jan, as these can be fatally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Dogs do not have to eat as often as we do, or even daily. If Lucille is still interested in food, drinking water, and not vomiting or diarrhea, I would continue to monitor her for another 24 hours. I would see a vet if the lethargy and decrease appetite continues. She could be coming down with something and may get worse, or getting over something and bounce back. Please do not give any over the counter medications unless directed by a vet because some medications are toxic to dogs. Good luck and kisses to Lucille!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear Champ isn't felling well. I recommend taking him to a vet right away. It is very difficult to diagnose him over the internet. If he is weak, he may need IV fluids and medications to make him feel better. Once a vet performs an exam, they will be able to guide you to the next steps in diagnosing and treating his problems. At his age, I would be worried about things like intestinal parasites or infectious diseases, like parvovirus. Good luck and kisses to Champ!